Busabase

Name: Busabase
Author: busabase

Self-hosted shared workspace of tables, docs and skills that agents read and change through reviewed proposals

Official · busabase TypeScript Local · Streamable HTTP Databases Knowledge and memory Productivity

GitHub npm Website

63 popularity score ★ 724 ↓ 363/wk

Connect your client

Local (once it is running)

Add in one click

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Add to LM Studio Add to Goose

Opens the app, which asks before it adds the server.

Or add it by command or config

Claude CodeTerminal

claude mcp add --transport http busabase http://localhost:15419/api/mcp

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "busabase": {
      "url": "http://localhost:15419/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "busabase": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://localhost:15419/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.busabase]
url = "http://localhost:15419/api/mcp"

Gemini CLITerminal

gemini mcp add --scope user --transport http busabase http://localhost:15419/api/mcp

Settings 3

`BUSABASE_DATA_DIR`	Optional: Folder for the embedded database and files; defaults to ~/.busabase/data.
`PG_DATABASE_URL`	Optional: Use an external Postgres database instead of embedded PGlite.
`STORAGE_URL`	Optional: Use S3-compatible storage instead of local file storage.

What it does

Busabase is a local-first workspace that several coding agents and people share. It holds Bases (typed tables with fields, views and records), Docs, Files, Drives, Skills, AirApps (small apps that run on workspace data) and other node types in one tree. You start the server on your own machine and agents reach it over MCP at `/api/mcp`, over a REST API, or through the `busabase-cli` client.

The point is that agent writes are not applied blindly. Tools such as `record_change_request`, `node_create` or `base_field_change_request` file a Change Request with a message, a field-level diff and an author; the permission level of the credential decides whether it merges at once or waits in an Inbox for a person. Read tools cover listing nodes and Bases, paging records, exact-field lookups, pattern search (`grep`) and relevance search (`search`), and reading files inside Skills and Drives. A playbook catalog (`playbooks_search`, `playbooks_get`) lets an agent look up a stored SKILL.md or prompt before it acts.

The MCP tool catalog is not a hand-written list: in v0.95.1 it is generated from the server's whole REST contract, with about 60 read-only GET tools alone, plus 19 task-level tools and a `busabase_guide` tool; endpoint tools that a task tool replaces, the dump/export session tools and `guides_list`/`guides_read` are withheld (apps/busabase/src/app/api/mcp/handler.ts and packages/busabase-contract/src/tasks/index.ts at v0.95.1). Tool annotations mark DELETE endpoints and `change_requests_close`, `webhooks_test_fire`, `forms_submit` and `onboarding_complete_bootstrap` as destructive.

By default it runs with an embedded PGlite database and local file storage under `~/.busabase/data/`, and needs no account. The same engine runs Busabase Cloud, a paid hosted service reached through a separate plugin.

What it needs

Node.js with npx to run `npx busabase server` (or Docker for the busabase/busabase image, or the Desktop app for macOS, Windows or Linux). The server must be running before a client connects; it listens on http://localhost:15419 and serves MCP at `/api/mcp`. An MCP client that can connect to an HTTP endpoint. Optional: an external Postgres database or S3-compatible storage.

Limits

There is no stdio command: the MCP endpoint lives inside the running web server, so a client connects by URL. Only one process can open the same embedded PGlite database at a time. `record_query` returns at most 100 records per call and pages with a cursor. Archiving through `node_archive` or `record_change_request` delete is reversible, but `nodes_purge` permanently removes an already-archived node. The catalog is large (well over 60 tools), which some clients that cap or truncate tool lists handle poorly; the server lists `auth_verify`, `playbooks_search` and `playbooks_get` first for that reason. The open-source server holds a single workspace.

Who it suits

Suits a person or team running several coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI) who want them to share structured records, docs and skills on their own machine, with a human able to review what agents change. It writes, so it fits when you want an audit trail and review queue rather than direct edits. Pick something lighter if you only need an assistant to remember a few notes, since this is a whole web app with its own database. For a workspace hosted on Busabase Cloud, use the Busabase Claude Code plugin from busabase/skills, which connects to https://busabase.com/api/mcp with browser OAuth instead of a local server.

Tools 36

playbooks_search: Find a stored skill or prompt that matches the task
playbooks_get: Read one playbook found by search
busabase_guide: Read a built-in guide on workspace or AirApp conventions
nodes_list: List folders, Bases, Docs, Skills and other nodes
bases_list: List the tables in the workspace
bases_get: Read one table's fields and settings
record_query: Page through records of a table, up to 100 per call
record_find_by_field: Find records where one named field matches a text value
grep: Pattern search over nodes, records, files and prompts
search: Relevance search across the workspace
nodes_read_lines: Read chosen lines of a document
node_list_files_trees: List the file trees of Skill, Drive or AirApp nodes
node_get_file_tree: Read one node's file tree
node_files_list: List files inside a Skill, Drive or AirApp
node_file_read: Read one file from such a node
node_files_change_request: Propose file changes inside a Skill, Drive or AirApp
bases_create_change_request: Propose one new record
bases_create_bulk_change_request: Propose many new records as one review
record_change_request: Propose updating, deleting or restoring a record
record_bulk_update_change_request: Propose partial updates to many records at once
base_field_change_request: Propose a table schema change
view_change_request: Propose creating or changing a table view
node_create: Propose one new node of any type with its content
nodes_create_change_request: Propose a whole subtree of nodes in one review
node_archive: Move a node to Trash, reversibly
nodes_purge: Permanently delete an already-archived node
list_archived: List archived nodes, tables, fields, views or records
change_request_query: List pending and past change requests
change_requests_get: Read one change request
change_request_review: Approve or request changes on a change request
change_request_merge: Merge approved change requests
change_requests_close: Close a change request
node_permission: List, grant or revoke access to a node
node_share: Read, turn on or revoke a node's public share link
forms_create: Set up a form on an existing node
forms_submit: Submit a form entry

Popularity

63 popularity score, on our list (the bar is 36)

★ 724 ↓ 363/wk

GitHub stars	724	34.3 points
npm downloads, last week	363	20.5 points
Official server	Yes	8 points

Measured 2026-11-07. How the score works.

Where it is published

Code	busabase/busabase ★ 724
npm	busabase

What it can reach

Runs	On your machine
Reaches	A database, Files on your machine, The internet
Changes things	Yes: it can write, send, create or delete
Sign-in	None
Licence	MIT (GitHub)
Last code change	2026-11-06

Runs on your machine as a Node.js web server on port 15419; data stays in ~/.busabase/data unless PG_DATABASE_URL or STORAGE_URL point elsewhere. Locally no account or API key is required. Its tools create, change, archive and permanently purge workspace content, manage node permissions and public share links, and can merge change requests; agent writes go in as Change Requests, and whether they merge immediately depends on the credential's permission level. The README states the open-source server is meant for a trusted local machine or private network and that write endpoints should not be exposed to the internet without authentication and a reverse proxy. Embed links it creates are bearer URLs: anyone with the link can open the target.

Over time

GitHub stars 724 +241 (+50 %)

724483

13 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

npm downloads a week 363 −532 (−59 %)

1.7k60

6 Jul 20267 Nov 2026

Before the site measured it, read from npm's daily download counts.

Popularity score 63 +10 (+18 %)

6653

13 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

What is rising across the directory

Sources

Page checked 2026-10-15.

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Connect your client

Add in one click

Or add it by command or config

Settings 3

What it does

What it needs

Limits

Who it suits

Tools 36

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